Editor in chief at IamExpat Media
The e-bike and e-scooter rideshare company Lime has announced that the Swiss city of Zurich will be the first in Europe to try out its two new vehicle models: the LimeBike and the LimeGlider.
Lime is seeking to boost its passenger numbers around the world by improving accessibility, particularly trying to attract women and older riders, Wired reports (currently, around 70 percent of all riders are men, with an average age of 33). It has therefore developed two new e-bike and e-scooter models. Both are smaller with wider tyres, and are lower to the ground to make it easier for users to step onto them.
The new LimeBike is a classic e-bike with pedal assistance and a throttle, meaning that users can move along without even having to pedal. It also comes with a super-adjustable seat, making it accessible for riders of all different heights. The LimeGlider is an all-new pedal-free design, somewhere between an e-bike and a moped, but with a maximum speed of around 25 kilometres per hour, depending on local city laws.
Lime customers in Zurich will be the first in Europe to be able to try out the new models. The LimeBike is already bookable via the Lime app, and the LimeGlider is expected to arrive in September. If the trial is a success, the novel modes of transport will be rolled out to other cities in Switzerland and across Europe and the world.
Lime enjoyed a record year in 2023, raking in over 150 million rides worldwide - approximately five trips every second. It now has scooters and e-bikes on the roads in five continents, including 200 cities across 30 different countries.
It seems to have managed to gain a foothold in a market that has swung rapidly to and fro in recent years - after an initial excitement over micro mobility gave way to disillusionment, and company after company folded. In Zurich, Lime e-bike and e-scooter rentals rose 25 percent in 2023 compared to the previous year, NZZ reports.
The scooters and bikes - which are often left discarded on pavements or roadsides, causing obstructions - have been a cause of annoyance for some Zurich residents, but Lime says it has eased the situation by establishing permanent parking spaces in the city centre and requiring users to submit a photo of their bike or scooter after parking it.
Editorial credit: Dragos Asaftei / Shutterstock.com